Where God Has You

Maybe you're in a rough spot right now. You feel like God has you going through it - struggles in marriage, problems at work, worries in finances, people problems, church problems, anxiety and frustration. But there are times when the Lord brings us to it, to go through it - to teach us and to grow us. There are no random trials in the life of a child of God.

Ishmael, an officer of deposed king Zedekiah during the Babylonian captivity, probably wasn't too happy with the change in his situation (foreign captivity and rule and the loss of a royal position), so what did he do?¹ Well, he did not do as Peter the apostle might have instructed him,

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.²

Ishmael did anything but bear up under the Babylonian conquest. He fought hard against it. He killed the temporary governor, Gedaliah, put in place by the king of Babylon. He slew the Babylonian guards who attended the court of the governor. And in an act that might seem rather strategically non-sensical and random, he killed seventy worshippers from northern Israel who were mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. Ishmael was an angry man whose anger and random acts of violence, I believe, were rooted in rebellion against God.

God's desire was for the Israelites to submit to the Babylonian rule. His plan for them through their captivity would end up for good. After seventy years of captivity, they would be brought home. And God's plan for us is for good as well, even when things aren’t going according to our plan or as we would desire.

Ishmael fought against the Babylonian situation, yes, but he also fought hard against the plan of God. And we do as well at times. We don't murder our opposers or host an insurrection against those who would diminish our desires, but all of us, at times, fight the working of God in our lives. Well, at least I do. And maybe you have as well.

Allow me to quote Paul the apostle before I write anything else; I think it's important that I do -

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus ...³

The purpose of our trials is to grow us, not set up a standard to condemn us. We all stumble in the process. We all make many mistakes. This is an encouragement, an exhortation, to not fight God in the trial. It will go better if you do not.

We have three choices in our trial, three paths we can choose:

• to fight against the situation God has brought us into (to fight God)

• to escape from the situation through worldly pleasure and distraction (to flee God)

• to submit to the working of God and remain under the trial until he is done (to trust God)

There is good waiting for you at the end of your trial. God has promised it.

Here are some scriptures for you, to encourage and strengthen you through your season -

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.⁵

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.⁶

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.⁷

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.⁸

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.⁹

References

¹ You can read about Ishmael's antics in Jeremiah 40 to 42.

² 1 Peter 2:19

³ Romans 8:1

⁴ James 3:2

⁵ James 1:12

⁶ Jeremiah 29:11

⁷ Psalms 30:5

⁸ 2 Corinthians 4:17

⁹ 2 Timothy 4:8